Physical Therapist Assistant School Program Overviews

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist assistants are required to have an associate's degree to practice; most states require certification or licensing. Learn about requirements and job prospects for this degree.

Essential Information

Community and technical colleges typically offer Associate of Applied Science programs for aspiring physical therapy assistants. These two-year programs prepare students to take the national licensing exam. A high school diploma or its equivalent is typically necessary for admission into a PTA associate's degree program. Some programs require CPR certification.

Physical Therapy Assistant Associate's in Applied Science Degree

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), most PTA curricula are broken into three sections: classroom instruction, laboratory training, and clinical education (www.apta.org). Students typically receive about 16 weeks of full-time clinical training. Common PTA classes include:

Kinesiology

Anatomy & Physiology

Therapeutic exercise

Medical terminology

Healthcare legal issues and ethics

Rehabilitation

Employment Outlook and Salary

The BLS expected a 41% growth rate in physical therapy assistant jobs during the 2014-2024 decade. Fueling a portion of this growth rate is the increasing availability of physical therapy services through third-party payers. A growing aging population also creates a need for physical therapy workers, because elderly people are more at risk of conditions that require physical therapy. Being able to delegate certain tasks to physical therapist assistants enables the physical therapist to handle a larger clientele.

As of May 2015, physical therapist assistants earned a mean salary of $55,250, stated the BLS. Among the highest-paying industries were home healthcare services, nursing care facilities, and elderly community care facilities.

Certification and Continuing Education

Many states require physical therapist assistants to obtain some type of licensure or certification, according to the BLS. Each state sets its own requirements for certification, but those typically include earning a PTA associate's degree and passing the National Physical Therapy Exam. Some states require candidates to pass a state exam and pursue continuing education.

PTAs who achieve advanced expertise in a specific aspect of physical therapy may receive credit through APTA's Recognition of Advanced Proficiency program. To qualify, potential applicants need to have a pre-specified number of hours of professional experience, complete a certain number of continuing education hours, demonstrate leadership abilities and have a record of good job performance.

Physical therapist assistants may want to advance their careers by becoming physical therapists. To do this, they must earn a bachelor's degree and continue on to earn a Master of Physical Therapy or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Associate's degrees in physical therapy teach students the skills needed to help patients rehabilitate after accidents and are set up to prepare them to earn licensure. With a number of jobs open following the completion of this degree and many opportunities for educational advancement, these degrees present students with several options after graduation.